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I originally posted this over at SA, but Steve didn't come back to the thread he opened! I figured I would do one step better, and come here and see if I could field this question to everybody at HOD.
This is THE place that I respect most about drumming, and the sheer multitude of fantastic players and educators on here makes me think that maybe I might be able to get the most help here, from all of the fantastic talent here [img]smile.gif[/img]
My question is kinda like this...I am an aspiring drummer. I have been taking lessons from a long time Gruber student around here in denver. With him I'm about done with master studies and all of the Morello Madness, and lots of other technique angles and tricks, so I am feeling fairly happy with my technique and playing the licks and what not....though I do know its an endless field!
Heres the first part of my question. Can you reccommend any good guys to go to to learn some true musical drumming and expression on the kit? I am at the point where I truly wish to start developing my style and make a unique voice for myself when I am playing.
My favorite influences and ergo what I can liken my playing to right now are guys like Keith Carlock, Bill Stewart, hmm and of course Steve Gadd, and Carter Beauford.
From Keith I absolutely adore the second line bass drum/snare figures he plays and the simplicity he is also able to interject.
From Bill I guess I'm kind of also saying that I like Tony Williams, with the aggressive yet artful style that both possess.
From Steve, its the groove of course, but also the physicality, and the motion of his whole body that he puts into his playing and his face as well.
From Carter, its mostly where I got the inspiration to try and open up the left side and make it contribute in tasteful and interesting ways.
Do you know any really good educators around the country? Famous or non famous, location doesn't particularly matter. What I really want is to learn to be confident that I can express whatever I want in any setting, in my own style. I just want to learn from guys who are aces and can truly help me.
My main goal is to be a solid studio and live guy who can be put into whatever situation. I suppose this is just about everybodies goal, but hey I guess an idea never hurts right?
(I originally phrased this for Steve only)
Secondly, well this may seem like an akward or lame question, but I know you're in LA and have been at it for a while. Is it really out there? Can I get into it and make a living by sending out demo tapes around the country and playing out as much as I can around town? This is in essence my plan at the moment, since I am just starting out. Do I need a better plan? Or is simple and perserverance the key? My end goal is just to make a living where I can pay my bills at it. Too ambitious or wishful?
I love playing and dedicate most of my efforts to it. I was originally going to attend LAMA, but I couldn't rationalize the around 40 grand I would need to borrow to go at this point. I still definitely want to take lessons with Ralph Humphrey, but I want to make sure I can get to the point where I can go to a guy like that, and be ready to learn things from him that I couldn't learn from a guy around town, and not waste either person's time.
So can anybody throw in their opinion, I'd be supremely grateful to each contributor of this topic. Thank you very much in advance..
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For the answer to the next teacher question you should ask yourself what do you want to learn next. If it's not more technique, than is it a certain style? For jazz and big band you might want to try and study with Jeff Hamilton, for the Latin stuff on the kit perhaps Walfredo Reyes, Jr.
The other thing to do (as you posted) is to study the recordings of the drummers you'd like to emulate in some fashion. Liberty DeVitto said that records became his "books". Jeff Hamilton also emphasizes studying AND transcribing the recordings of the greats. Basically, you should study the music of whoever it is that you'd like to gig with in the future. Weckl studied the Gadd recordings with Corea. Dianna Krall transcribed the music of the Clayton-Hamilton orchestra while in high school. Years latter she hired both Clayton and Hamilton.
Good luck!
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Thanks for the insight Andy, well I mean on technique I dont really see the need to go to the Thomas Lang sorta levels for technique, and stuff like that. I mean I wouldn't mind learning more technique in a sense, maybe if I'm talking about going to visit/do all of Gary Chaffees sort of school with all of the displaced stuff.
I would like to learn as much about touch and expression on the kit, so maybe guys like Stanton Moore, or Bill Ward?
I do very much want to learn Latin on the kit as well as second line, etc, so I'd love to visit any of the guys for the different stylistic gamuts that you can all reccommend!
Thats a cool idea about transcribing and playing who I would want to play with later. I'll have to think about that and do some research! Thanks so far! Anybody else?
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Thanks Flam, I know Bill seems like he would be cool. Im more just asking if you guys have any knowledge any names you guys can give me, or experiences, or hearsay, anything. Bill Ward and Stanton Moore are a couple guys I just have in mind so far, but I know I could do alot worse!!
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Also Steve if you come around do you think you could give me any insight my friend? Any and all takers! :|
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QUOTE:
"I originally posted this at SA"
Just wondered what "SA" is?
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If you want to find and express your own voice through the instrument, i think that just comes from playing experience and from so many combined things. A teacher can't teach you your personal voice or musical expression, although they can give you tools and tips to facilitate and allow you find this expression. Mainly reaching full technical freedom allowing you to play what you hear in your head and hence allowing you to concentrate fully on the music.
Good luck in your musical career in the future!!! Hopefully there will be enough room for all us. btw on the topic of moving to l.a...do a search..a few pages back there should be a thread made by someone in a similar situation to you...also check out steve hass' board where he gave a response on the subject!
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There are many great teachers in major cities. But the major teacher of the next level is yourself. Teachers can show you some amazing things, but after a while, it's up to you to do it.
But since you are interested in Stanton Moore or Billy Ward; the best bet is to try and contact them, set up some lesson time(I know Billy would do this), and fly to them.
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 17, 2005 12:40 AM: Message edited by: FlamTriplet ]</font>
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If you're looking to deepen your musicality the best thing to do is play music with others. Prefereably others that are at least on your level, if not better.
I did a jazz coffee shop weekly thing for a couple years a while ago. 1st set brushes, 2nd set sticks (quietly). The band was good and various folks came and sat in. It did wonders for my playing. That's the kind of thing you need to find (I realize it's Denver). Instead of books, videos and drummers giving you ideas, musical interactivity is the best way to really get creative. It's that kind of thing that makes the musical ideas come out that otherwise can't be found in books or from orchestrating rudiments around the kit.
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There is a Cuban drummer who I know moved to L.A. about 4 years ago named Idalberto Perdomo. He is a monster latin/rock/funk/jazz drummer. He does not have a teaching method per se. He will just teach you whatever he feels like sharing with you at any given time. He probably would not be appropriate for other than advanced to professional drummers. The things he will show you will change the way you understand drum music and how to create it. A single lesson from him is more valuable than a years worth of lessons from most teachers. I recommend him highly.
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 17, 2005 11:22 PM: Message edited by: Henry II ]</font>
